Spraying device



Sept. 20, 1938. w, CLAYTON 2,130,629

,SPRAYING DEVICE Filed June 9 1936 r [/VVENTOR MLL/AM CLAYTON PatentedSept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAYING DEVICE ApplicationJune 9, 1936, Serial No. 's4,2s9

12 Claims. (01.299-107) My invention relates to a device for sprayinghot liquids, which, due to the heated condition,- tend to form gases orsteam on being released from pressure in a spray nozzle, and theinvention relates in particular to means for spraying a hot detergentagainst a surface which is to be cleaned thereby.

My present invention is an improvement on or an addition to theinvention disclosed in application Serial No. 495,636, filed November14, 1930, by Walter S. Kerrick, for a Fluid heater.

The invention is of especial utility in the cleaning of surfaces, such,for example, as the walls of buildings, floors, etc., by the applicationof a detergent solution thereto which may conslst of a mixture of soapand water heated to a temperature near the boiling point of water. Ithas been found that surfaces of the general character above set forthcan be cheaply and expediently cleaned by the application of a stream ofdetergent solution under heat and pressure, and I have determined thatmaximum efliciency in this cleaning action can be maintained where theissuing jet of heated detergent solution is held under control and in aconcentrated form.

Naturally, in the operation of a device of this character, the greaterthe heat of the detergent solution the more effective will be thecleaning action; but, considerable difficulty has been experienced wherethe detergent solution is raised toor above the boiling point due to thetendency for steam to form in relatively large quantities or cloudsadjacent the discharge orifice of the ordinary type of spray nozzle usedwith the device, these clouds of steam interfering with the operatorsview of the surface being treated and causing a sputtering action of thefluid as it issues from the discharge orifice of the nozzle.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a cleaning device ofthe above character having means for delivering the hot detergentsolution in such a manner that the formation of steam around thedischarge of the nozzle will be reduced to a minimum and so that theundesirable sputtering of the discharging fluid will be eliminated.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a cleaningdevice of the above character having a discharge nozzle which willdeliver a stream containing vapor and liquid in slender, concentratedform and of flattened crosssectional area.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a nozzle which willissue a fluid jet of flattened form, this nozzle having a tubularexternal wall of flattened or rectangular cross section and having acore therein of flattened form to define a tubular discharge passage andalso a tubular discharge orifice of flattened or rectangular crosssection;

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evidentthroughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, trative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a cleaning device embodying my presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a preferred construction ofnozzle for use in conjunction with the device pictured in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 2, this view beingtaken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the fluid jet taken on a planeindicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front end view of an alternative form of nozzle embodying myinvention.

In Fig. 1, I show a cleaning device II which which is for illusincludesa tank l2 for a detergent solution,

for example, as a mixture of soap and wa- "Ihrough a pipe 13 thedetergent solution pump I4 which delivers the detergent solution througha pipe IE to a heater l6 having a discharge member 11 to which adischarge conduit l8, including a hose i9 and a pipe 2!, may be secured.The pipe 2| is suitably insulated so that it may be handled, and to theforward end thereof a nozzle 22 is secured, this nozzle 22 being soformed that a relatively slender jet 23 of the detergent solution willissue therefrom. I find that with my present invention I can heat thedetergent so lution to nearly 300 F., which is considerably above theboiling point of water at atmospheric pressure, and yet maintain aslender jet 23; whereas, the natural tendency for the heated solution isto expand on issuing from the nozzle so as to form a jet such asindicated by dotted lines 24. Likewise, where ordinary types of nozzlesare employed, there will be a formation of clouds of steam ahead of thedischarge nozzle, and the heated detergent will issue from the nozzlewith a sputtering action. However, by using a nozzle of the charactershown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, I am enabled not only to use thedetergent solution at a high temperature, but alsoto maintain arelatively slender concentrated such, ter. is carried to a force visionof the operator.

jet 23 which is'of flat cross-sectional form, as shown in Fig. 5, and isnot accompanied by large clouds of steam which will interfere with theThe expanded jet obtained by use of ordinary nozzles with a device ofthe character shown results in a rapid loss of theforce of the fluidupon its issue from the nozzle, thereby making itnecessary to hold thenozzle relatively close to the work if any reasonable force ofapplication of the heated detergent fluid to the surface to be cleanedis to be obtained. The condensed jet 23, in addition to being of flatcharacter or laterally expanded, is of such concentration that it willcarry for a considerable distance and will cause the detergent solutionto strike the surface to be cleaned with considerable force.

The nozzle disclosed in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive comprises a tubular wall25 having a threaded inlet opening 26' for attachment to the forward endof the pipe 2|, and having a discharge opening 21 at its opposite end.Within the tubular wall 25 a core 28 is extended, the wall 25 and thecore 28 being so formed that between them there will exist a tubularpassage 29 of flattened, and preferably rectangular, form. Although Ifind that satisfactory results can be obtained in the nozzle where thepassage 23 is of substantially constant cross section from end to endthereof, it is preferable to make the core 23 in the form of a flat barof substantially constant cross section from end to end thereof, and totaper the wall 25 forwardly so that the passage 29 will reduce incross-sectional area toward the discharge opening 21. The forward end 3|of the core 28 extends preferably centrally within the discharge opening21 so as to form therein a discharge orifice 32 of flattened tubularform. The rearward end 35 of the core 28 extends within an opening 36 atthe rearward end of the wall 25, and is adjustably secured by means ofscrews 31. The forward end 3| of the core 28 is relatively blunt andpreferably has a flat front face 38 placed so that it will not projectmaterially beyond the front end face 33 of the wall 25, and beingpreferably set back from the end 39 inside the discharge-opening 21 inthe manner shown in Fig. 2, in which position the best operation of thespraying device is obtained. When the flow of detergent solution issuesat high velocity from the tubular orifice 32, it is caused to convergein the manner shown by lines 40 of Fig. 2, with the result that thesmallest part of the jet 23, as indicated by the numeral 4|, will be ata distance from the end of the nozzle. This effect is apparently causedby the formation of a wedge-shaped vacuum space 42 adjacent the end face38 of the core 28. As a result of the conditions above set forth, arelatively slender jet 23 of the heated solution is formed, and theforce thereof is concentrated to such a degree that the jet will carry aconsiderable distance and will strike the surface to be cleaned withconsiderable force. Likewise, the popping or sputtering of the jet isovercome so that the action of the nozzle is relatively quiet. Likewise,the liberation and separation of steam adjacent the nozzle is minimized,with the result that the operator's view of the surface be ing cleanedis not obstructed to such an extent as to interfere with the carrying onof the work.

I have found that the discharge orifice 32 does not have to be fullytubular; or, in other words, the orifice need not extend around all foursides of the forward end portion 3| of the core 23 in the manner shownin Fig. 3. Instead, the discharge orifice may extend on two sides oraround three sides of the core in the manner shown in Fig. 6, wherein Ihave shown the front end 39a of a nozzle 22a, having a rectangularopening 21a with'a flat core 281: therein in such position that itengages or is attached to opposing edge walls 44 of the nozzle shell25a. The core 28a formsin the rectangular opening 21a a divided orifice32a which extends across the top and then across the bottom of the core2811. Even though the discharge orifice 32a is not completely tubular, avacuum pocket of wedge-shape will be formed adjacent the forward end ofthe core 28a, causing a concentration of the jet beyond the end of thenozzle 226. If desired the orifice 32a may extend across one edge wallof the core 28a, as indicated by the dotted line 30 of Fig. 6. In thisconstruction the orifice will be of U-shaped cross section.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple andpractical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereofare representative of other parts, elements. or mechanisms which may beused in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially thesame results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to. be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accordedthe full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described for delivering a concentratedjet, including: a tubular wall having one end thereof disposed so as toreceive a stream of fluid and having the other end thereof forming adischarge opening of flattened cross section; and a core of flattenedcross section extending axially within said tubular member so as to forma tubular passage therein, said core extending into said dischargeopening to define therein a tubular discharge orifice and terminating ina, relatively flat end surface whereby said fluid stream creates azoneof reduced pressure adjacent said relatively fiat end surface tending todraw the resulting jet toether.

2. A device of the character described for delivering a concentratedjet, including: a tubular wall having one end thereof disposed so as toreceive a flow of fluid and having the other end thereof forming adischarge opening of flattened cross section, said discharge openinghaving a width at least twice as great as its height; and a core offlattenedcross section extending axially within said tubular member soas to form a tubular passage therein, said core extending into saiddischarge opening and deflning therein a tubular discharge orifice.

3. A nozzle of the character described for delivering a concentratedstream of fluid, including: a tubular wall having a fluid inlet at oneend thereof and a discharge opening at the other end thereof offlattened cross section; and a core extending axially within saidtubular member so as to form a tubular passage therein, the forward endof said core being of flattened cross section and forming a tubulardischarge orifice in said discharge opening.

4. A nozzle of the character described for delivering a concentratedstream of fluid, including: a tubular wall having a fluid inlet at oneend thereof and a discharge opening at the other end thereof offlattened cross section; and a core extending axially within saidtubular member so as to form a passage therein, the forward end of saidcore being of flattened cross section and forming in said dischargeopening a discharge orifice which extends around at least three sides ofsaid forward end of said core. l v

5. A nozzle of the character described for (18:-

livering a concentrated stream of fluid, including:

a tubular wall having a fluid inlet at one end thereof and a dischargeopening at the other-t end thereof of rectangular cross section; and a'core extending axially within said tubular member so as to form atubular passage therein, the forward end of said core being ofrectangular cross section and forming a tubular discharge orifice insaid discharge opening.

, 6. A nozzle of the character described for delivering a concentratedstream of fluid, including: a tubular wall having a fluid inlet at oneend thereof and a discharge opening at the other end thereof ofrectangular cross section; and a core extending axially within saidtubular member so as to form a passage therein, the forward end of saidcore being of rectangular cross section and forming in said dischargeopening a discharge orifice which extends around at least three sides ofsaid forward end of said core.

7. A nozzle of the character described for delivering a concentratedstream of fluid, including: a tubular wall-having a fluid inlet atone'end thereof and a discharge opening at the other end thereof offlattened cross section; and a core extending axially within saidtubular member so as to form a passage therein, the forward end of saidcore being of flattened cross section and forming in said dischargeopening a discharge orifice which extends on at least two sides of saidforward end of said core.

8. In combination in a device for forming aconcentrated steam-containingjet: a tubular wall providing a zone adapted to receive at one end aflow of fluid and forming at its other end a discharge opening offlattened cross section; and a core of flattened cross section extendingsubstantially axially in said tubular wall to form discharge passagemeans between the sides of said core and the side walls of saiddischarge opening, the forward end of said core terminating near theforward end of said tubular wall V steam-containing jet and bring theflow through said discharge passage means together at a point beyondsaid blunt end of said core.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which said discharge passagemeans on opposite sides of said flattened core are non-parallel andconverge toward each other as they approach the position of saidrelatively blunt end to assist the action of said zone of reducedpressure in bringing the flow therethr'ough together at said pointbeyond said blunt end of said core.

10. A nozzle of the character described for discharging a concentratedjet, including: a tubular wall providing a zone receiving fluid at oneend and providing a discharge opening at its other end of flattenedcross section providing side walls; and a core extending in said zoneand providing a flattened forward portion cooperating with the flattenedside walls of said discharge opening to form a discharge passage meanson opposite sides of said core for delivering flattened streams towardand beyond the forward end of said core, said forward end of said coreterminating near said discharge opening and being relatively bluntwhereby flow of said flattened streams past said relatively blunt endforms a zone of reduced pressure adjacent this. relatively blunt end tocontrolthe shape of the resulting jet and bring the flattened streamstogether at a point beyond said relatively blunt end of said core.

11. A nozzle of the character described for discharging a concentratedjet, including: a tubular wall providing a zone receiving fluid at oneend and providing a discharge opening at its other end which dischargeopening is of elongated shape in cross section; and a core extending insaid zone and providing a forward portion elongated in cross sectionsimilar to the cross sectional shape of said dischargeopening exceptsmaller to provide an elongated annular passage means around saidforward elongated portion of said core and inside said tubular wall,said forward elongated portion of said core terminating near the forwardend of said discharge opening and providing a relatively blunt endsurface beyond which the stream flowing through said elongated annularpassage moves, the resulting elongated annular stream flowing past saidrelatively blunt 12. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which saiddischarge'opening is of rectangular cross section and in which said coreis of rectangular cross section.

WILLIAM CLAYTON.

